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What's the underrated quote that will stick with you for life? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago by needthosepylons@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Even better if you can provide your own understanding of its meaning.

Mine would be :

"Nothing kills a man as much as being forced to represent a country" (and err considering the context, I must stress it has nothing to do with the current US shitshow), by a WW1 soldier, illustrator and writer named Jacques Vaché.

For me it just means being forced into representing a group (national, of course, but maybe also social, racial, sexual, professional, any kind of group) or defining one's identity only by reference to a group is to be avoided at all costs.

Note : Its not the same, imho, as engaging in a collective struggle or defense against a common oppression.

How about you?

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 21 hours ago

Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. Those who know history are doomed to know it's repeating.

It's the second part that makes this otherwise well know phrase hit much closer to home for me.